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Phytotaxa 192 (4): 296–300
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ISSN 1179-3155 (print edition)
PHYTOTAXA
ISSN 1179-3163 (online edition)
http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.192.4.7
Gymnosporia swazica (Celastraceae), a new species from southern Africa
MARIE JORDAAN1,2 & ABRAHAM E. VAN WYK1*
H.G.W.J. Schweickerdt Herbarium, Department of Plant Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa.
Previous address: National Herbarium, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Private Bag X101, Pretoria 0001, South Africa.
*Author for correspondence. E-mail: [email protected]
1
2
Abstract
Gymnosporia swazica, a new restricted-range southern African species, is described and illustrated here. Known from only a
few localities in Swaziland and bordering parts of South Africa (Mpumalanga and northeastern KwaZulu-Natal), G. swazica
grows as an understorey shrub or small tree in forest, often among granite boulders. Diagnostic characters for G. swazica
include chartaceous leaves, usually shorter than 25 mm, 3-valved capsules usually 6–7 mm long, which are smooth, green
turning yellow, and a white aril partially covering the brownish seed. Its closest relative appears to be G. buxifolia (capsules
rugose, mottled white-and-brown), one of the most widespread members of the genus in southern Africa, but it can also
be confused with G. maranguensis (capsules red, 2-valved) and G. harveyana (capsules pink to red, 3-valved; aril orange,
completely covering the seed).
Introduction
Gymnosporia (Wight & Arnott 1834: 159) Hooker (1862: 359, 365) is an Old World genus, occurring in Africa, nearby
Atlantic Ocean Islands, southern Spain, Madagascar and other Indian Ocean Islands, SE Asia, Malesia, Australia and
on the Polynesian, Micronesian and Melanesian Islands. It comprises over one hundred species (Jordaan & Van Wyk
2006). Hitherto 26 named species of Gymnosporia were recognized in the Flora of southern Africa region, the latter
comprising South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Swaziland and Lesotho (Archer & Jordaan 2003, Jordaan 2008).
The new species of Gymnosporia described in the present contribution has come to light since Jordaan’s taxonomic revision (1995) of the spiny members of subfamily Celastroideae (Celastraceae) in southern Africa, and the reinstatement of the genus name Gymnosporia for the group (Jordaan & Van Wyk 1999). It was brought to our attention
by Linda Loffler of Swaziland and Johan Hurter and Ernst Schmidt of Mpumalanga, South Africa. One of us (MJ) has
subsequently studied the species in the field during which the type material was collected. The new species belongs to
Gymnosporia section Buxifoliae Jordaan (Jordaan & Van Wyk 2006: 519).
Taxonomy
Gymnosporia swazica Jordaan, sp. nov. (Fig. 1)
Closely related to Gymnosporia buxifolia (Linnaeus 1753: 197) Szyszylowicz (1888: 34), but differs in having glabrous, smooth, yellow
capsules. It differs from G. maranguensis (Loesener 1894: 231) Loesener (1908: 303) by having 3- (vs. 2-) valved capsules; and from
G. harveyana Loesener (1896: 430), by having a white (vs. orange) aril partially (vs. completely) covering the seed.
Type:—SOUTH AFRICA. Mpumalanga: Nelspruit District, Crocodile River Gorge, along road from Nelspruit to Kaapmuiden, 11 July
2000, Jordaan 3712 (holotype PRE0863219-0!, isotypes K!, NH!).
Gymnosporia sp. D in Schmidt et al. (2002: 348).
Gymnosporia graniticola (ined.) in Loffler & Loffler (2005: 54).
296
Accepted by Jinshuang Ma: 4 Dec. 2014; published: 15 Jan. 2015
Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
Distribution:—Although G. swazica is mainly associated with the Lebombo Mountains in Swaziland, hence the
specific epithet, it is also known from scattered localities in South Africa’s Mpumalanga Province (Crocodile River
Valley region, east of Nelspruit) and far northeastern part of KwaZulu-Natal (Fig. 2).
Ecology:—The new species grows in small forest enclaves within a fire-maintained savanna matrix known as
SVI 3 Granite Lowveld (Mucina & Rutherford 2006). Van Rooyen & Bredenkamp (1996) recognized this vegetation
type as Mixed Lowveld Bushveld (elevation 450–600 m), generally a frost-free region with low rainfall (400–800 mm
per year) and temperatures between -4°C and 45°C, with an average per annum of 22°C. The substrate is characterized
by sandy soils in the uplands and clayey soils with a high sodium content in bottomlands. The geology is granite and
gneiss with numerous dolerite intrusions and areas covered by gabbro (Van Rooyen & Bredenkamp 1996). Acocks
(1988) considered the climax of this area to be forest. G. swazica grows in forest in shade, on hillsides, in soils derived
from granite, often among boulders, close to streams. It is often associated with Diospyros natalensis (Harvey 1863:
7) Brenan (1954: 500) subsp. nummularia (Brenan 1948: 111) Jordaan (2009: 102).
Additional specimens examined (paratypes):—SOUTH AFRICA. Mpumalanga: ± 25 km from Nelspruit to
Kaapmuiden, Crocodile’s Poort Mountains, Jordaan 3845 (PRE); KwaZulu-Natal: Lebombo Mountains, Sikulukulu
stream, Ward 1507 (NH); Lebombo Mountains, road between Ingwavuma and Josini, P. van Wyk BSA694 (PRE, PRU).
SWAZILAND. Stegi District, 14 miles S of Stegi, Compton 30062 (PRE); Blue Jay Ranch, Lebombo Mountains S of
Umbuluzi Gorge, 3 miles NNE of Mhlumeni border post, Culverwell 1107 (PRE); Lebombo Mountains, Kemp 706
(PRE); 4 km NE of Tikuba store on road from Siteki to Mambane, Prior 376 (PRE).
Acknowledgements
We thank Johan Hurter, Ernst Schmidt and Linda Loffler for bringing the new species to our attention, Hester Steyn for
preparing the distribution map, Lesley Deysel for the illustration, and the University of Pretoria for financial support.
The curators of the KwaZulu-Natal Herbarium (NH), Durban, and National Herbarium (PRE), Pretoria, are thanked
for the loan of specimens.
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